Sucker Punch For The Ages: Is San Diego FC & Los Angeles FC The Greatest Rivalry in Sports?

First off, before you rush to judgment, or cast aspersions on any 6-foot-4, 300-pound bearded gentlemen in a black coat and khaki shorts, allow me to set the stage. This is early season MLS action. This is San Diego FC's first season as an MLS team. Their first time hosting cross-SoCal rival Los Angeles FC (not to be confused with the more widely known LA Galaxy). Up until this season, San Diego had always been an LAFC/LA Galaxy town. But since the introduction of San Diego FC, allegiances have been tested. There's been a seismic shift in the landscape of MLS fandom all the way from Carlsbad to the Tijuana border. Families ripped apart at the seams. Sons & daughters abandoning their fathers' preferred Los Angeles-based MLS squad in favor of their shiny new local MLS squad. Needless to say, there was tension in the air. The winner of Saturday's match would skyrocket to near the top of the Western Conference. The loser would sink to about the middle. Or they would tie and pretty much stay the same. The stakes could not have been higher. Fans of both sides came into Saturday with their head on a swivel, looking for a fight.

I have no clue if any of what I just said is actually true. But I'm sure there are some fans who jumped ship. And I feel like there's a natural rivalry between Los Angeles and San Diego. There seems to be some actual bad blood there. Plus the game itself looked like a good ol' fashioned California barnburner. It was a high scoring game. San Diego FC got off to a roaring start, notching 3 goals in quick succession in the latter half of the first 45. 

But right when San Diego FC thought they were about to head into the tunnel with a cushy 3-goal lead, LAFC notched a pair of their own, including a cracker of a try from Smoliakov, and Cengiz Ünder's first net of the season to bring the game back to close. 

Most soccer fans will go a full year without witnessing 5 goals in person. Let alone in one half. Snapdragon Stadium electricfied. They waved flags. Held scarves above their heads. Took their shirts offs. Tossed smoke grenades. If I didn't know any better, I'd think this game was being played anywhere other than America.

Fans of both sides were on their feet for the duration of a scoreless second half. A second half capped off with this heart-stopping cross from Tillman in the 97th minute that nearly brought the game level and stole a point for LAFC.

But San Diego FC was able to hold on. It was mayhem at the Snap.

It's only natural that as soon as the stadium cleared, there would be a friendly exchange of fists in the parking lot. 

Complete with the most blatant, mismatch of a sucker punch in MLS history.

Rarely do you see a sucker punch come from a man twice the size of the sucker punchee. He was a thief in the night too. He stepped in for quick knockout and went on his merry way. Despite his great size, it's a bit hard to follow exactly where the puncher saunters off to after the punch. But I was able to follow him up until the 14 second mark, where he appears to be disappearing into the darkness completely unchecked.

Most people will watch this video and chastise these fans for behaving in such an unruly manner. There was another solid sucker punch push at the 33-second mark. A lot of masks on faces, which tells me these fans came ready to throw hands win, lose, or draw. But you can critique the contents of the fight you want. I'm looking at the big picture here. This is a fantastic sign for soccer in America. The World Cup is right around the corner. The United States is hosting. This is exactly what America needs if we want to be taken seriously in the world of soccer. Unruly soccer fans brawls have been a staple in countries across the world where world-class soccer is played. I'm told our men's national team is the best we've had to offer in the history of USA soccer. And now were starting to behave like a respectable soccer playing nation. I know this particular fight is basically happening on the Mexican border. But we have to start somewhere. With any luck, we'll soon get a parking lot fan brawl after the Columbus Crew lose a heartbreaker to FC Cincinnati. If we can get a soccer brawl in Ohio, that's how we'll know we're ready for the world's stage. USA. USA. USA. ⚽️